International Day to Combat Islamophobia
The United Nations has designated March 15th the “Combating International Islamophobia Act.” This day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the alarming rise of anti-Muslim sentiment and violence around the world and to renew our commitment to combating bigotry and hatred wherever it exists.
Why March 15th? Today is the anniversary of the massacre of 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand four years ago, emphasizing the urgency to address Islamophobia globally.
What is Islamophobia?
Islamophobia is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and those perceived as Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.
Impacts of Islamophobia
The effects of Islamophobia are far-reaching and significant. This dangerous and discriminatory attitude results in a steady rise of hate crimes and discrimination against Muslims, creating a culture of fear and exclusion. It also promotes negative portrayals of Muslims in media, perpetuating harmful stereotypes that lead to negative mental health impacts for individuals and the community as a whole.
According to a recent study, Muslims are 2x more likely to have attempted suicide than any other group (JAMA Psychiatry, 2021). Muslim children in K-12 schools are more prone to bullying due to their faith compared to children of other religions. The survey conducted by The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) found that 42% of Muslim parents reported their children being bullied for their faith, while only 23% of Jewish and 20% of Protestant parents reported the same.
What can you do?
One way to support this effort is to advocate for the “International Combatting Islamophobia Act.” This legislation would establish a Special Envoy within the U.S. State Department to monitor and combat Islamophobia globally.
The creation of the Special Envoy will help policymakers better understand the interconnected, global problem of anti-Muslim bigotry. It will also establish a comprehensive strategy for establishing U.S. leadership in combatting Islamophobia worldwide.
By supporting this act, we can send a strong message that Islamophobia will not be tolerated and that we stand with Muslim communities around the world, including Muslims suffering severe oppression due to Islamophobia in places like China, Burma, France, India, and Palestine.
Send a message to your U.S. Senators urging them to pass this bill.
Learn more about how to counter and dismantle Islamophobia using ISPU’s toolkit: www.ispu.org/countering-islamophobia/
